lordreo wrote:I just have to say, I can't believe how Joseph gets better and better every tour. What I saw in all these videos here was just outstanding and the reason why Toto is my all-time favourite band! Incredible!

He blew me away on "I'll Supply The Love" and I was convinced that was too high to do

That is some great footage captured, love hearing Stranger in Town and the Road Goes On live. The addition of Lenny Castro back in the band is a huge boost, the last couple of mins in "Never Enough" was killer love that.

Anyone know why Hungate uses a stand for his bass? Didn't notice it until I saw a video of a soundcheck. I thought he was maybe playing two basses on certain songs (i.e. how he used a double-neck on some of the early videos), but it appears he uses the bass on the stand for the entire gig.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Ok, I listened (I own FIB Live in Paris). On CITB, Greg soulfully exclaims "Oooh yeah" maybe 4 or 5 times? Really minor stuff. Sounds like the guy is rocking out and having a good time.

It's attention-seeking and it's unprofessional. He did it on so many tracks too, he ruined Cruel as a result. If you liked Greg, that's great, I'm very glad he's gone.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Ok, I listened (I own FIB Live in Paris). On CITB, Greg soulfully exclaims "Oooh yeah" maybe 4 or 5 times? Really minor stuff. Sounds like the guy is rocking out and having a good time.

It's attention-seeking and it's unprofessional. He did it on so many tracks too, he ruined Cruel as a result. If you liked Greg, that's great, I'm very glad he's gone.

Cruel on Paris FIB sounds great - aside from the auto tune! Paich can't be replaced but Greg was great. You make it sound as if he tried to sing over the lead vocalist.

"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater

Greg's adlibs never bothered me. Dude was having fun (maybe the only one in the band having fun at the time), and he's an absolute monster player. I enjoyed his playing the couple times I saw him with Toto. (and with Stevie Wonder a couple months ago)

WalrusOct9 wrote:Greg's adlibs never bothered me. Dude was having fun (maybe the only one in the band having fun at the time), and he's an absolute monster player. I enjoyed his playing the couple times I saw him with Toto. (and with Stevie Wonder a couple months ago)

Yea, same here. But hey, different strokes...

"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater

WalrusOct9 wrote:Greg's adlibs never bothered me. Dude was having fun (maybe the only one in the band having fun at the time), and he's an absolute monster player. I enjoyed his playing the couple times I saw him with Toto. (and with Stevie Wonder a couple months ago)

Yea, same here. But hey, different strokes...

If he hadn't been up to the task, i probably would've felt differently.

He also slightly changed the melody of a few things he had to sing lead on, like Dave's part in "Home Of The Brave" in a way that I thought was pretty cool. Added a little soul to the "Never sounded quite like this before" line, which I always dug.

It's a shame because I really wanted to like Greg. In some ways, he's a stronger vocalist and keyboardist than David Paich and he's a brilliant musician but his behavior both in interviews and on stage was a huge turn off for me. The way he talked in interviews, he acted as if he was an original member and had been there since day 1. Then there was all the over the top stuff on stage such as the ad-libbing and dancing around like on Gypsy Train. I'm just not a fan of any of that shit. Not to mention he was really disrespectful to a longtime fan of his on Totonetwork.

In a way though, I get it. He had spent his entire career as a background musician and now, he finally got his big break and is an actual member of a band and is now in the spotlight. I think he was just overly excited and let it get to his head abit. I've seen interviews that Greg has done since leaving Toto (like for Bad 25) and he came across as a very likeable and respectful dude.

Met him once at the LA show in '06 and he was nothing but a kind and friendly dude.

I've seen him as a sideman with Stevie in person, and on a bunch of Clapton stuff on TV, and I think he's just kind of like that naturally. I don't recall any particular interviews with him while he was in the band or the Totonetwork incident you are referring to (RIP, TotoNetwork), but onstage I think he was just himself. Honestly, you see so many guys in classic rock bands just going through the motions sometimes, that having someone clearly and outwardly enjoying himself onstage was a nice change of pace.

Dunno. Anyway, none of this matters now...go back to talking about this awesome tour/setlist that I have no chance of seeing.

Meh - I didn't mind Greg. I was more disappointed that Paich wasn't there simply because of how much Toto is defined by his writing, singing, playing and arranging. As I've said on other forums, when I saw them with Greg, it was clear Luke was the leader of the band. When Paich returned, there was no question that Paich was the leader on that stage.

At the gig in Oslo, they dropped not only Never Enough, but also Bottom of Your Soul, Takin' it Back and On the Run. Luke's voice was a bit hoarse and rough, probably because he had a cold a few days earlier, so that may have been the reason they dropped Never Enough and Bottom of Your Soul, to reduce the strain on his voice, but I don't know why they skipped the other two songs. Also, Joseph helped Luke out a bit with the vocals on Great Expectations.

Steve Porcaro sounded like he was struggling with Takin It Back at the first show. This is his first time ever singing live and I imagine it's quite hard for him. It looks like it's been dropped from the last couple of shows, I wouldn't be surprised if it's been dropped completely.

TotoFan77 wrote:Steve Porcaro sounded like he was struggling with Takin It Back at the first show. This is his first time ever singing live and I imagine it's quite hard for him. It looks like it's been dropped from the last couple of shows, I wouldn't be surprised if it's been dropped completely.

Always got the sense he wasn't really comfortable singing live ... never really did it before last year.

TotoFan77 wrote:Steve Porcaro sounded like he was struggling with Takin It Back at the first show. This is his first time ever singing live and I imagine it's quite hard for him. It looks like it's been dropped from the last couple of shows, I wouldn't be surprised if it's been dropped completely.

Always got the sense he wasn't really comfortable singing live ... never really did it before last year.

I think he did well with Takin' it Back and am sad to see it dropped from the set. I think it would appear that Steve Porcaro has become quite comfortable with singing; he sang live last year (as a test of sorts, I presume), and then had two lead vocals on the album. Of course, he has sung on a number of demos over the years as well. I hope Takin' it Back resurfaces or, perhaps even more, that they will give The Little Things a live airing.

Taking It Back was added back last night after being gone for a few weeks. On The Run was back too. Still no Bottom Of Your Soul or Never Enough.

I honestly don't care if BOYS is dropped for good, I hate the fact that Joseph wasn't getting to sing his part alone. I don't dig the group arrangement between him, Jenny and Mabvuto at all. Let Joseph sing it alone like he's more than capable of or don't perform it at all.

Running Out of Time I'll Supply the Love Stranger in Town I Won't Hold You Back Hold the Line Takin' It Back Never Enough Pamela Without Your Love Little Wing (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)Great Expectations Georgy Porgy Hydra The Road Goes On Orphan Rosanna Encore:On the Run / Goodbye Elenore Africa

August 6, Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, NY, USA

Running Out of Time I'll Supply the Love Hydra I Won't Hold You Back Hold the Line Georgy Porgy Keyboard Solo Great Expectations Pamela Without Your Love Little Wing (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)On the Run / Goodbye Elenore Orphan Rosanna Encore:Africa

I've been mulling over whether to see them in Dallas (Grand Prairie) at the end of the month, and tell you the truth, I'm bummed about the setlist. I guess the number of songs is consistent with this kind of package tour, but I sure wish they were doing more songs off of XIV than 3. I've never seen them live, but still not sure if I will go. Too bad I can't fly to Europe when they are over there.

Running Out of Time I'll Supply the Love Stranger in Town I Won't Hold You Back Hold the Line Takin' It Back Never Enough Pamela Without Your Love Little Wing (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)Great Expectations Georgy Porgy Hydra The Road Goes On Orphan Rosanna Encore:On the Run / Goodbye Elenore Africa

August 6, Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, NY, USA

Running Out of Time I'll Supply the Love Hydra I Won't Hold You Back Hold the Line Georgy Porgy Keyboard Solo Great Expectations Pamela Without Your Love Little Wing (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)On the Run / Goodbye Elenore Orphan Rosanna Encore:Africa

I've been mulling over whether to see them in Dallas (Grand Prairie) at the end of the month, and tell you the truth, I'm bummed about the setlist. I guess the number of songs is consistent with this kind of package tour, but I sure wish they were doing more songs off of XIV than 3. I've never seen them live, but still not sure if I will go. Too bad I can't fly to Europe when they are over there.

Hmm. Three new numbers is pretty good on a double billed tour. That's just the reality these days. But what bugs me more than anything is seeing the Little Wing cover in every setlist. Every band seems to put at least one cover into their set these days. What's more, the cover usually ends up being a showcase for one or more members to wank around with solos, and it ends up taking at least two-four original songs' place in the set.

I know the bands we go see have their heroes and influences the same way we do, but by and large, there's no room for a band I love to be playing any covers, especially on a shortened set on a double/triple bill tour or festival.

I very much agree about Little Wing. I'd be pleased to see Lukather do that on a solo tour, but I think it's pointless to have an extended five-six minute guitar solo spot and then a three or four minute keyboard solo spot on a double-bill tour. That's 10 minutes, that could easily have accommodated two proper songs.

I honestly think it was a good thing that the band seemed to have done away with the extended solo spots on the last few tours (2011-13), with The Muse and the extended ending of Stop Loving You being the closest thing to solo wanking. Maybe Simon kept Paich and Lukather on a bit of a leash setlist-wise. Now we're going back to what was the case in the nineties and 2000s, with extended solos - just the sort of thing that bores the non-musician (including die-hard fans such as myself) and more casual listener to death. Oh well.

This is not a fundamental complaint against the set, though, but more of an, err, sigh. And if Si was indeed the one who threw the extended solos over board, I do miss him even more.

To be honest, I'm actually kind of let down by the US setist. What's bothering me really is that I was *REALLY REALLY REALLY* excited to finally see Stranger In Town and The Road Goes On live. The footage in Europe kicked butt!

Not only were those two songs dropped, but Georgy Porgy and Hydra were added in their place. Hydra has been done the last several tours and Georgy Porgy was added in as a new song for the tour with Michael McDonald.

I get that they want to appear to the Yes "Progressive Rock" crowd with Hydra/Great Expectations, but I really wish they'd lose Little Wing and Georgy Porgy (and maybe Without Your Love too) and bring "Stranger" and "Road" back. And maybe substitute Chinatown in place of Georgy Porgy.

DracIsBack wrote:To be honest, I'm actually kind of let down by the US setist. What's bothering me really is that I was *REALLY REALLY REALLY* excited to finally see Stranger In Town and The Road Goes On live. The footage in Europe kicked butt!

Not only were those two songs dropped, but Georgy Porgy and Hydra were added in their place. Hydra has been done the last several tours and Georgy Porgy was added in as a new song for the tour with Michael McDonald.

I get that they want to appear to the Yes "Progressive Rock" crowd with Hydra/Great Expectations, but I really wish they'd lose Little Wing and Georgy Porgy (and maybe Without Your Love too) and bring "Stranger" and "Road" back. And maybe substitute Chinatown in place of Georgy Porgy.

Great suggestions all around. The Road Goes On is one of my all time favorites, and Chinatown is a top 3 off XIV.

Well, Georgy Porgy was a bit of a hit, so they may have opted for that rather than Chinatown to cater for the average listener, though I'm not exactly sure what a Yes fan would get out of either. As for Road Goes On, I very much agree it should be in the set, but I guess Tambu didn't do much in the US (or even if it was released there). I'd really like to see Burn in there though, and it's a shame they dropped it for the 90 minute set - even more so when there are about 10 minutes of extended solos. But if Steve Howe can do The Clap, I guess Lukather can do Little Wing...

I think it's a good thing they do Hydra and Great Expectations, which are certainly the most 'Yes' like tracks the band have ever done.

Penguinpc wrote: I've never seen them live, but still not sure if I will go.

For me, if I had the option of never having seen them live, and seeing them live, I'd go. I've never been disappointed in seeing them live, even if I am being pissy about them not playing "The Road Goes On".

I would imagine it was the same at previous shows, but they worked in a little bit of Can You Hear What I'm Saying during Great Expectations and a bit of Childs Anthem at the beginning of On The Run/Goodbye Elenore.

We arrived about 2 hours ahead of time, and the band were doing their soundcheck when we were headed to the restaurant next door for dinner. They played a good bit of Chinatown and were chatting with what I assume were the guests for their meet and greet.